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AAP
AAP
Politics
Jacob Shteyman

Fast hands place Aussie stackers in reach of world cups

Mitchell Stribley and sister Tamika are representing Australia in the world stacking championships. (HANDOUT/SHANE JONES)

They're the Australian family vying for a place at the pinnacle of the fastest sport involving drinkware.

Less than two years after they first began stacking cups, the Stribleys are on their way to compete at the world championships in Florida in March.

Lisa, her son Mitch and daughter Tamika have quickly earned a fearsome reputation as one of Australia's top sport stacking dynasties.

"It's been a bit of a joke at the tournaments, you know people go, 'oh here's the Stribleys, here they come'," Ms Stribley told AAP.

Australia's cup stacking king Jaydyn Coggins inspires a new wave of stackers.

Developing out of a niche pastime in US high schools in the 1980s, the sport involves stacking and unstacking towershe way home I kind of got emotional and I thought about what it actually meant and that's when it really hit mse."

In the hands of an expert, it's a mesmerising blend of speed, precision and drinking vessels.

Getting the call-up to represent their country was almost overwhelming for Mitch, 15, and Tamika, 12, who will embark on their first overseas trips with the Stackeroos.

"I was shocked," Tamika said.

"On the way home I kind of got emotional and I thought about what it actually meant and that's when it really hit me."

Tamika first got hooked on the sport when she saw Australia's cup stacking king Jaydyn Coggins performing at her school in Adelaide's southern suburbs.

Tamika Stribley at the Australian Sport Stacking Championships.
Tamika Stribley and brother Mitchell will embark on their first overseas trips with the Stackeroos. (HANDOUT/SHANE JONES)

Sport stacking consists of three events: the 3-3-3, the 3-6-3 and the cycle - which involves stacking and down-stacking cups in a 3-6-3 formation, into a 6-6, into a 1-10-1.

Coggins holds the Australian record for all three disciplines and remains a genuine contender for the title of sport stacking world champion.

The 21-year-old is the closest thing to an Australian stacking celebrity, as much as he tries to downplay it.

His journey as a 15-year-old to the world championships in 2018, the last time they were held in Florida, was chronicled in the ABC documentary Stackorama.

That year, Coggins was the sole Australian representative at the tournament.

At the head of a 15-strong contingent, his return to Orlando as Australian stacking's elder statesman carries extra significance.

"Before the documentary came out, I almost was not wanting to continue stacking, but these kids, they've taken over my life," Coggins said.

His transformation from a kid who struggled to make friends to a mentor for the next generation of stackers has amazed his mum Rachel Flierl.

"I'm really proud of Jaydyn because he's gone from only having to think of himself to now getting just as much joy out of watching the stackers grow and compete as he does from his own stacking," she said.

The sense of community he has found in the stacking "family" has been invaluable to Coggins, who has autism.

Lisa, Mitchell and Tamika Stribley pose with their stacking trophies.
Tamika and Mitch's mum Lisa says stackers do not care what level of ability you bring to the table. (HANDOUT/SHANE JONES)

Ms Stribley has seen the benefits it has had on Mitch, who is neurodivergent as well.

She says it's a community that supports diversity and doesn't care what level of ability you bring to the table.

"It doesn't matter if your personal best is a 17-second cycle, or if it's a five second cycle, everybody celebrates your improvements and your little wins," she said.

"There's a lot of camaraderie."

But they've had to make a lot of sacrifices to keep the dream alive.

As much as it pains the self-sufficient single mum to ask for help, Lisa Stribley has taken to GoFundMe to help cover the cost of airfares and accommodation to Orlando.

"If you know me, you know I don't like asking for things," she said.

"I don't even like owing you a coffee.

"I'm completely out of my comfort zone, but this is such a huge opportunity for Mitchell and Tamika, so here I am."

Ms Flierl estimates she has spent over $50,000 travelling to tournaments around the world.

She hopes by getting stacking into more schools and raising its profile, they can attract more sponsorships and funding to the sport.

As well as as its social benefits, parents are just as happy for their kids to get some much needed time away from their devices.

"I hear that a lot from parents too," Ms Flierl said.

"If it gets them away from a screen that's good."

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